College Democrats and College Republicans make joint statement advocating for ISU to cancel classes on election day

Come Election Day 2024 on Nov. 5, students can expect classes to be canceled to allow students more time to vote.

Illinois State University College Democrats and College Republicans advocated for civic engagement across ISU’s campus by creating a joint statement that would cancel classes on Election Day. Not suspending academic activities on this day would contradict ISU’s values of supporting civic engagement.

“It is a moral obligation of all American citizens to promote civic engagement,” said ISU junior Ross Vancil, President of College Republicans. “That’s why we endorse the closure of Illinois State University on Election Day so all can have their voices heard and have access to the polls.”

During the midterm election of 2022, over 1,200 individuals registered on the day of the election to participate in the voting process. The turnout in youth voter engagement had been remarked as astonishing, despite the line the voters stood in.

Classes had been canceled on the day of the midterm elections. Voters had waited for hours on that day, and it was noted that the lines could be as lengthy for the 2024 election. The results of lines this long will impact class attendance if classes are not canceled.

ISU College Democrats president Delaney Reynolds provided her statement about the university supporting student voters.

“We as college students are already disproportionately affected by the inaccessibility to vote. Considering that the [ISU]'s one and only objective is to serve students, they must ensure that they do not contribute to the already difficult climate of voting,” Reynolds said.

ISU’s College Democrats had contacted Vancil with the idea of creating a statement and extended the statement invitation to the College Republicans. Vancil said that he and the College Republicans executive board felt it was a great project.

After the College Democrats had drafted the statement, Vancil and College Republicans Vice President Braiden Gonzalez met with Reynolds and other members from the College Democrats. They made a couple of edits to ensure the statement was at its’ best.

“It is important for students to have election day off because it provides all students the opportunity to fulfill their civic duty and vote in a huge election,” Vancil said.

“If students have classes, they will be limited in their ability to vote on election day and will be discouraged and unable to stand in long lines which we have seen in the past,” Vancil continued.